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Climate
In Guadeloupe, the climate is tropical, hot and humid all year round, with a relatively cool and dry season from January to mid-April, called carême (Lent), and a hot, humid and rainy season from mid-June to mid-November, called hivernage (whose root reminds of the winter, although it is a hot season, and also quite sunny). In the former period, the northeast trade winds, constant winds typical of tropical climates, blow steadily and with moderate intensity, while in the latter period the winds are more irregular, and may have some breaks, increasing the feeling of sultriness.
Rainfall in Guadeloupe varies greatly in quantity depending on the area, but follows the same pattern, and are more frequent and abundant from May to November (and especially from July to November), and less frequent and shorter from December to April (and particularly in February and March).
The best time to visit Guadeloupe goes from January to March, being the coolest and driest. In December and April, which are usually acceptable months, the rains can sometimes be abundant. In the period May-October there's a humid heat; there is no shortage of sunshine, but showers and thunderstorms are frequent, and sometimes abundant, especially in the second part, from August to October, when in addition the risk of hurricane rises.
Getting Here
Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) for international flights
Other smaller airports on the attaching/neighbouring islands for domestic/local flights
Main port located a capital, Pointe-a-Pitre with regular ferries operating from nearby Caribbean countries and cruise companies
Good to know
Regular ferry services operate from Saint-Lucia, Martinique, and Dominica, via companies such as Star Ferries, Brudey Frères, or Express des Iles. Guadeloupe is also often included on the route of luxurious Caribbean cruise companies, with the main port being located in the capital of Pointe-à-Pitre.
With public transports somewhat unreliable, many travellers choose the option to rent their own car from one of the many car rental companies found in Pointe à Pitre. Although the archipelago’s main roads offer pretty good driving conditions, take more care when driving on smaller roads, which can sometimes be dangerous to drive on.
History of Guadeloupe
Like many other Caribbean islands, Guadeloupe’s takes its modern name from the explorer Christopher Columbus, who called it Santa María de Guadalupe, in honour of the Virgin Mary venerated in the Spanish town of Guadalupe. But like many other Caribbean islands, Guadeloupe took its first name from its original occupants, the Arawak, who settled there in 300 AD, giving it the name of Karukera, or “The Island of Beautiful Waters”.